Valmiki Ramayana 5.38.20 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 38, Shloka 20

अभिज्ञानप्रदानम्

The Token of Recognition (Chūḍāmaṇi) and the Crow Episode Recalled

Devanagari script

बाष्पपूर्णमुखी मन्दं चक्षुषी परिमार्जती।लक्षिताऽहं त्वया नाथ वायसेन प्रकोपिता।।5.38.20।।

Transliteration

bāṣpapūrṇamukhī mandaṃ cakṣuṣī parimārjatī |

lakṣitā 'haṃ tvayā nātha vāyasena prakopitā || 5.38.20 ||

Translation

હે નાથ! જ્યારે વાયસે મને ક્રોધિત કરી હતી અને મારું મુખ અશ્રુઓથી ભરેલું હતું, ત્યારે હું ધીમેથી આંખો પુંછતી હતી—ત્યારે તમે મને ઓળખી લીધા.

Word by Word

• bāṣpa-pūrṇa-mukhī: with face full of tears
• bāṣpa-pūrṇa-mukhī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāṣpa (बाष्प) + pūrṇa (पूर्ण) + mukhinī/mukhī (मुखी प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष): बाष्पेण पूर्णं मुखं यस्याः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifying aham

• mandam: slowly, gently
• mandam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: manda (मन्द प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial use of accusative neuter)

• cakṣuṣī: (both) eyes
• cakṣuṣī: Karma (कर्म) (object of parimārjatī)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakṣus (चक्षुस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन

• parimārjatī: wiping
• parimārjatī: Karta (कर्ता) (participle qualifying aham)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari-√mṛj (परि+मृज् धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘wiping’

• lakṣitā: was noticed
• lakṣitā: Karma (कर्म) (passive subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √lakṣ (लक्ष् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘was noticed/observed’

• aham: I
• aham: Karma (कर्म) (as passive subject with lakṣitā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent (कर्ता in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन

• nātha: O lord
• nātha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nātha (नाथ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• vāyasena: by the crow
• vāyasena: Karaṇa (करण) / Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyasa (वायस प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• prakopitā: angered
• prakopitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√kup (प्र+कुप् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘angered’

Context

'The crow came back again and clawed me in the space between my breasts even after I woke up after slumber from Rama's lap. Flying, it tore my bosom again and again.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• Rāma
• crow (vāyasa)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Attentiveness to another’s suffering is dharmic; the protector must perceive distress and respond, not ignore it.

What is the narrative situation?

Sītā describes the moment Rāma first noticed her tears caused by the crow’s harassment.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Rāma’s empathy and vigilance; Sītā’s sincerity in expressing pain without deceit.